Abstract: In 2016, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) published a number of revisions of the seventh edition of the tumor, node and metastasis (TNM) classification for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The purpose was to establish a set of recommendations for the eighth edition of the TNM staging system. A large number of patients were included in the IASLC database and subsequently analysed to determine new definitions for the components of the TNM classification. A number of important changes were introduced for the T component. Survival analysis of the different T categories showed no significant difference in categories T1a and T1b. This has resulted in a collapse of categories T1a and T1b into one category T1. In addition, tumor thickness was also significantly associated with overall survival. The descriptors for the N components have been redefined as well for the eighth TNM classification. A major revision is the removal of category N3 in the N component. Both intrapleural and extrapleural (N1 and N2 in the seventh edition) are now combined into a single category N1. Lymph nodes that were previously categorized as N3 are now considered N2. For the M component, no redefinition has been published. However, a recommendation has been made to only consider M1 involvement as stage IV disease. This is in contrast to the seventh edition in which T4 and N3 disease were considered stage IV as well. In conclusion, a number of important revisions for the eighth TNM classification of MPM have been published as a result of this IASLC project. This type of large-scale and international joint efforts are key in establishing effective staging systems. Research into using tumor thickness as a prognostic instrument will be an important part of any future editions of the TNM classification.

Keywords: Mesothelioma; staging; tumor, node and metastasis (TNM)

Submitted Mar 19, 2018. Accepted for publication Jul 12, 2018.

doi: 10.21037/tlcr.2018.07.05

Introduction

In 1994, the first widely accepted tumor, node and metastasis (TNM) classification for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) was published by the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (IMIG) (1). This was the result of a consensus meeting in June 1994 during the Seventh World Conference of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). Before this staging system, diagnosing and accurately staging MPM was a challenging task as clear guidelines or a universally accepted classification for staging MPM did not yet exist. This was the first MPM staging system that was based on outcomes of several retrospective series and clinical trials. This TNM classification was then also adopted and revised by the American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) leading to the previously used seventh edition of the classification (2-4). However, over the years more and more limitations of this staging system became apparent. First of all, the data used for establishing the classification was mainly derived from small single institution retrospective series (5). Furthermore, translating clinical and pathological findings into a corresponding TNM stage sometimes proved quite difficult. To address these matters, in 2016 the IASLC published a number of recommendations for the eighth TNM classification for MPM based on analysis of recent large retrospective series and clinical trials. With regards to the previous edition, a number of important revisions have been made in the different descriptors (6-8).

T descriptors

The T component of the TNM classification describes the primary tumor site and is quite challenging to apply in MPM due to its unconventional growth pattern. Unlike other malignancies, there is no concentrically enlarging primary tumor but rather multiple nodules that may become confluent and spread along the pleural surfaces often accompanied with pleural effusions (Figure 1) (6,9). Furthermore, unlike the staging systems for most other malignancies, tumor volume is not one of the main descriptors of disease extent even though evidence indicates that there is an effect on prognosis (10,11). The previous TNM staging system was proposed by the IMIG in 1994 after a meeting in which data from a number of retrospective series and clinical trials were presented. T descriptors were then formulated and published after review by members of the IMIG (1). Due to the fact that most of the data that was used for this classification was based on surgical research, some difficulties came to light when the T descriptors were applied in clinical settings (12). In an ideal setting, the T component should provide information on the prognosis and survival should be inversely related to each ascending T category.

Figure 1 Fused FDG PET/CT image shows several nodules with intense FDG uptake at the right pleura and a large right pleural effusion. FDG, fluorodeoxyglucose; PET/CT, positron emission tomography/computed tomography.

In the seventh TNM classification as proposed by the IMIG, T1 was divided into T1a and T1b with T1a describing very early tumor that only involved the ipsilateral parietal pleura and no visceral pleura. With T1b, the tumor was slightly more advanced and involved both the parietal and visceral pleura. This distinction was based on a prospective study in 1993 performed by Boutin et al. in which thoracoscopic staging performed in 66 patients revealed a significant difference in survival (32.7 months with T1a and 7 months in T1b) (13). T2 referred to tumors that involve the ipsilateral pleural surfaces and involve at least one of the following aspects: confluent visceral pleural tumor including the fissure, invasion of the diaphragmatic muscle and/or invasion of the lung parenchyma. T3 tumors describe locally advanced tumors that are still potentially amenable to surgical resection and involve any of the ipsilateral pleural surfaces with at least one of the following features: invasion of the endothoracic fascia, invasion of the mediastinal fat, solitary focus invading soft tissues of chest wall and/or non-transmural involvement of pericardium (1).

In the IASLC staging project, the T categories were statistically examined to analyse whether survival was significantly different between them. In the clinically staged cases, there was a clear separation of all T categories except T1a and T1b (6). In the pathologically staged cases, however, no clear differentiation could be made between any of the adjacent T categories except for T3 and T4. This was especially the case for the categories of T1b, T2 and T3. Further statistical analyses found that there was no indication that any T descriptor should be shifted or eliminated. Due to lack of clear separation on both the clinically staged and the pathologically staged cases, categories T1a and T1b were collapsed into one category T1 which resulted in better performance of the T component during survival analysis of adjacent categories (Table 1).

Table 1 Comparison of T descriptors as defined by the seventh and eighth edition of the TNM classification Full table

The effect of pleural thickness was investigated as well, with measurements of maximum thickness taken in an axial plane in the lower, middle or upper part of the chest wall or mediastinum. Statistical tests were performed in an attempt to find potential cutpoints. Survival analysis showed an expected decrease from lower to higher measurements of pleural thickness. Analysis of survival by a single measurement of maximum pleural thickness from three separate levels, a single cut-off point was identified at 5.1 mm, with a median survival of 24.2 months when pleural thickness did not exceed 5.1 mm at any level and 17.7 months when pleural thickness did exceed 5.1 mm.

N descriptors

The N component of the TNM classification is an important prognostic factor for survival in MPM. Patients with nodal metastases in MPM are known to have significantly lower survival rates than patients without nodal metastases (5,14-17). The N categories published by the IASLC and IMIG have since their introduction in 1994 not been changed or thoroughly investigated and in the last years, a lot of questions have arisen regarding its clinical applicability (12). Furthermore, the N categories used for staging in MPM were adopted from the staging system of the Mountain/Dressler-American Thoracic Society (MD-ATS) and Naruke classification systems which were used for lung cancer staging (7,18,19). Subsequent research demonstrated that there is a difference in patterns of lymphatic drainage between lung cancer and MPM due to the fact that MPM predominantly involves the parietal pleura (20). However, substantial evidence supporting the applicability of these N categories for MPM is lacking.

The previous TNM staging system divided the node classification into four main categories: N0, N1, N2 and N3. N0 indicates absence of any nodal metastases; N1 indicates metastases to ipsilateral bronchopulmonary and/or hilar lymph nodes; N2 indicates metastases to subcarinal and/or ipsilateral internal mammary or mediastinal nodes; and N3 indicates metastases to all contralateral intrathoracic and supraclavicular nodes. At that time Rusch et al. already noted that data on overall survival in N1 and N2 categories were insufficient to distinguish between the two categories and thus both were considered stage III in contrast to lung cancer (1).

In data published after analysis of the IASLC database, results confirmed that there is a significant difference between node-negative (pN0) and node-positive (pN1 and/or pN2) disease. Patients with single-station and multi-station node involvement were analysed and no significant difference in overall survival could be noted between these two groups. Furthermore, patients with skip metastases (N2 disease without involvement of N1 lymph nodes) were examined for overall survival. In lung cancer patients, research has already shown that skip metastases are associated with better overall survival rates (21,22). According to the IASLC data, survival for patients with pN0 was significantly better than for patients with N2 skip metastases. However, survival was worse for patients with both N1 and N2 when compared to skip pN2 disease only.

In addition, no significant difference in survival could be found between pN1 and pN2 (seventh edition), thus supporting the fact that both should be grouped as stage III disease. However, a shift was proposed with regards to the anatomic locations of the lymph nodes and their corresponding categories. In the new, eighth edition of the staging system, intrapleural (previous N1) and extrapleural (previous N2) lymph nodes are grouped into one category (N1) and previous N3 nodes shifted into N2 category (Table 2) (7).

Table 2 Comparison of N descriptors as defined by the seventh and eighth edition of the TNM classification Full table

M descriptors

The M component of the TNM classification describes the presence of distant metastases of a certain solid tumor. The M descriptors as proposed in 1994 by IMIG were based on the same principles used in all other solid tumors. This means that M0 denotes no evidence of metastases and that M1 designates the presence of distant metastatic disease outside of the ipsilateral hemithorax (Table 3). In the recent IASLC staging project, data on patients with and without metastatic disease were analysed. Median overall survival in the M1 group was 9.7 months. In the previous staging systems, T4- or N3M0 were grouped in stage IV disease. However, the median overall survival calculated for these patients in the new IASLC database was 13.4 months, which was a significant difference. For this reason the authors have proposed to only include M1 in stage IV disease (Table 4) (8).

Table 3 Mdescriptors as defined by the seventh and eighth edition of the TNM classification Full table

Table 4 Comparison of stage groupings as defined by the seventh and eighth edition of the TNM classification Full table

Conclusions

The eighth edition of the TNM classification has introduced some key changes in the different components of the staging system for MPM. For the T-component, the most important revision is the collapse of the previous stages T1a and T1b into one combined category T1. This means that there is no longer any distinction between tumors invading both the parietal and visceral pleura and tumors that are restricted to only the parietal pleura. This differentiation had already proven to be very difficult to accomplish in a clinical setting. In addition, statistical analysis of overall survival in patients with pathologically staged T1a and T1b MPM did not result in a significant difference. This means that there is little relevance regarding the prognosis by making a distinction between tumors invading the parietal and visceral pleura and tumors invading only the parietal pleura (6).

Another concept that has been researched during the analysis of the IASLC database is whether tumor bulk has any effect on the prognosis of patients with MPM. Measurements of pleural thickness in three axial planes were performed on the patients included in the database. The data was analysed and the results showed that there is a potential cutpoint at approximately 5 mm at which overall survival significantly changes if tumors exceed this thickness. However, interobserver variability is an important factor to take into account with these results and more research is necessary regarding this topic to further improve the staging accuracy of the T component (6).

For the N component, a number of important revisions were introduced in the eighth TNM classification of MPM. The previous editions of the TNM classification were largely based on data of nodal metastases in lung cancer even though there is evidence that the lymphatic drainage pattern of MPM is different. Analysis of the IASLC database revealed a number of interesting results with regards to the N components. The effect of single-station and multiple-station node involvement was researched and results proved that there is no significant difference in overall survival between these two groups. Furthermore, the concept of ‘skip metastases’, a situation in which N2-nodes are affected without N1-node involvement, was investigated as well. Overall survival was better in patients with N2 disease than patients with both N1 and N2 involvement. Similar results regarding survival have been obtained in studies of lung cancer patients with skip metastases (7).

As for the N descriptors, survival analysis did not yield any difference between pN1 and pN2 patients (seventh edition). This means that both can indeed be considered stage III disease as was previously assumed as well. With regards to the anatomical differentiation within the N categories, a redefinition was proposed after survival analysis. In the eighth TNM classification, only two N categories (N1 and N2) remain due to the fact that intrapleural and extrapleural nodes are now grouped into category N1. Furthermore, the previous anatomical descriptors for N3 disease are shifted and defined as N2 disease. In light of the results regarding the N descriptors, it seems that for MPM, survival is more affected by the number of nodes involved than by the specific anatomical locations of nodal disease (7).

The M descriptors have not been changed after analysis of patients with and without metastatic disease in the IASLC database. However, a redefinition was proposed for the TNM categories that are regarded as stage IV disease. In the previous editions, categories T4 and N3 without metastatic disease (M0) were regarded as stage IV as well. However, the overall survival calculated for the patients in the IASLC database was significantly different for these categories (T4- or N3M0) when compared to patients with M1 involvement. Therefore, a shift has been proposed in which only M1 will be regarded as stage IV MPM (8).

In conclusion, a number of major revisions have been made for the eighth TNM classification for MPM. This project set up by the IASLC was the first large-scale analysis of an international database of patients diagnosed with MPM. Not only has it resulted in a number of new descriptors for categories T1, N1 and N2, it has also paved the way for a more clinically useful tool for staging patients with MPM. Furthermore, this extensive database analysis has introduced new research opportunities as well. For example, the concept of using tumor bulk as an additional prognostic instrument is a notion that is promising and certainly needs to be investigated (23,24). Some methodologies using computed tomography (CT) or positron emission tomography (PET) have been used for this purpose, however, more refined and internationally standardized measuring methods are necessary before tumor measurement can be included in the T component (24-27). As for the N and M components, it is essential that physicians continue to document nodal and distant metastatic involvement in their patients and gather this data for future research into refining the TNM classification.

Acknowledgements

None.

Footnote

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

References

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